Theatre Consultant - Stage Lighting

Charcoalblue; Greater London; On-site; GBP 35,000 - 50,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Unlimited vacation (Take What You Need

Bonus scheme

Pension auto-enrolment

Private health insurance

Home working allowance

Laptop provided

Company phone

Event tickets

Job summary

Charcoalblue is seeking a Theatre Consultant – Technical System Designer (Stage Lighting) to join our global Theatre Consultancy team in the UK. You will design, document, and commission stage lighting systems across projects, collaborating with theatre designers, equipment designers, and acousticians to deliver holistic, bespoke solutions.

You’ll report to an Associate Director and receive induction and ongoing training.

Qualifications

• Minimum four years’ experience as a stage lighting designer or technician.
• Minimum two years as technical systems designer or specifying stage lighting systems.
• Proficiency in CAD/Drafting tools (Vectorworks, AutoCAD, REVIT).
• Proficient with Microsoft Office and Google Workspace.
• Experience with PDF workflows (Adobe Acrobat/Bluebeam).
• Interest in live performance or events with a passion for the arts.

Responsibilities

• Produce drawings, specifications and reports for projects and support senior team members.
• Maintain high quality standards aligned with QA procedures.
• Meet with clients to evaluate lighting needs and design solutions.
• Provide cost projections for stage lighting systems.
• Support commissioning, witness testing and site visits as required.
• Work with global teams across time zones to deliver holistic designs.

Skills

Stage lighting design

Technical systems design

Communication

Self-management

Education

Higher education qualification in theatre

AVIXA training (Desirable)

Tools

Vectorworks

AutoCAD

REVIT

MS Office

GSuite

Adobe Acrobat

Bluebeam

Job description

Thank you for your interest in Charcoalblue!

Description of Role

We are seeking a Theatre Consultant – Technical System Designer with a Stage Lighting focus to join our global Theatre Consultancy team in the UK. You will be responsible for all aspects of design, documenting, and commissioning Stage Lighting systems on our projects, working as part of our project teams which can include team leads, theatre designers, stage equipment designers, experience designers and acousticians to deliver holistic, bespoke dedicated design solutions. It would be advantageous for you to have prior experience with theatre and/or presentation technical systems and/or broadcast and media technology, either as a practitioner and/or systems designer and / or experience as a team leader or project manager.

You will report to one of our Associate Directors and your project assignments and workload will be managed by your line manager. You will have the chance to meet regularly with your line manager to ensure you are fully supported in your role and since theatre consultancy is a specialist field, we will provide role-specific inductions, and ongoing training to help you succeed.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide general support for projects; primarily assisting with the production of drawings, specifications and reports for specific projects, as well as assisting the more senior team members with research on new products, developing the principles of system design and the production of Charcoalblue’s ‘standard’ system information.
• Work to a consistently high standard, in line with Charcoalblue’s quality assurance and control procedures.
• Ensure that the demands of your projects are fully met.
• We aim to be unassailable in the quality of our work, the speed of our response, and to motivate the entire design and construction team by the good humour and competence of our approach.
• Operate with minimal administrative assistance: drafting emails, letters, reports and budgets as necessary.
• We will expect you to be self-motivated in your own research, expanding your knowledge of the theatre and also of the construction industry. We welcome any particular skills or experience which you may bring to the company. We invite you to highlight these on the attached application form.
• Meeting with clients to evaluate their needs for a project as they relate tostage lightingsystems and network systems design (and beyond).
• Working with our internal design team to present a holistic design solution which balances all aspects of performance functionalityand budget.
• Communicatingwith client teams to describe our solutions and ensure they reflect the right fit which balances the needs of various project constituents.
• Describing the functionality and purpose ofstage lightingsystems while adjusting communication styles for different audiences - for other creative designers, for experienced technicians, or electrical engineers.
• Working with architectural and engineering teams to ensure that each of the design disciplines includes the required infrastructure, support, and accommodation for all elements of thestage lightingsystems.
• Providing cost projectionsthroughout a projectforstage lightingsystems integration.
• Conducting value engineering; adapting and revising designs to reduce cost while maintaining as much value and performance as possible, meanwhile being able to describe impacts on functionality.
• Participating insite visits for commissioning, witness testing,construction progress, andother purposes as required.This position will require occasional travel, including international/overseastravel.
• Working with our Team Leaders to set out project work plans, goals, and deliverables.
• Contributing to the continual development of our internal design and technical resources.
• Discussing your work and ideas with other designers atCharcoalblue.
• Serving as a resource forallour designers aboutstage lightingtechnology applicable to our projects.

Qualifications And Key Skills

Essential

• Minimum four (4) years’ experience as a stage lighting designer or technician, ideally across performing arts and architectural contexts.
• Minimum two (2) years of experience working as a technical systems designer or specifying stage lighting systems or equipment.
• Experience in computer drafting of some form; Proficiency in Vectorworks, AutoCAD or REVIT will be required.
• Professional experience with the standard suite of Microsoft Office and GSuite products.
• Professional experience with Adobe Acrobat and / or Bluebeam - we operate a paperless office and use the Adobe/Bluebeam PDF format for all documents.
• Experienceand interest in live performance,and/or events, with a demonstrable passion for the performing arts.

Desirable

• Excellent communication skills through verbal explanations, interpretation of data, sketch drawing, written communication, technical drawing, and formal presentations.
• Ability to self-manage and set work plans for the successful delivery of work against deadlines with minimal input from management.
• Expert level of detailed knowledge about stage lighting and high level of knowledge about audiovisual equipment infrastructure and networkingtechnology, and systems integration.
• You may have completed a higher education qualification or have attended a Technical Theatre course at a Drama School, College or University.
• You may have completed industry relevant training (AVIXA etc).
• Served as primary stage lighting or audiovisual systems designer for completed projects in the design, documentation, construction, and commissioning phases, either as a consultant or client.
• Practical knowledge of stage lighting and/or audiovisual theory and design, with a solid understanding of networks and required relevant infrastructure.
• Practical knowledge of Theatre Health & Safety practice and it would be advantageous to have some knowledge of current relevant Health & Safety and electrical regulations.
• Skill and sensitivity to graphic design and layout, graphical display of information, adhering to design standards, and incorporating corporate branding.
• Knowledge and experience of the operation and/or construction of theatre and/or live performance buildings.
• Experience demonstrating the creation of contract documentation for stagelighting or audiovisual systems on new construction or architectural renovationprojects in the UK and / or EMEA.
• Experience working with a distributed global team across different time zones.
• Experience of temporary or permanent architectural lighting schemes.
• Experience of temporary or permanent stage lighting immersive environment installations

Interpersonal Skills

• Strong organisational and time-management skills, with a dependable and consistent approach.
• Careful and thorough, able to produce accurate work.
• Clear and confident communication skills, both in writing and speaking.
• Comfortable managing multiple responsibilities with support where needed.
• Able to maintain focus and use healthy coping strategies during busy periods.
• Approachable and respectful when working with others.
• Confident working independently and collaboratively within local and global teams.
• Open to learning and adapting to evolving business needs.
• Able to prioritise tasks and balance a varied workload.

What’s in it for you?

• Ability to request an unlimited number of days off under our "Take What You Need" leave policy
• Studio closure over Christmas and New Years
• Annual company bonus scheme
• Pension auto‑enrolment
• Monthly live event tickets allowance to stay inspired by the industry we design for
• Home working contribution towards internet and utilities
• Private Health Insurance after two years for you and your dependants
• Laptop and peripherals provided
• Company mobile phone scheme

Start Date

ASAP

Salary

The salary range for this role is £35,000 - £50,000 per annum for a 40-hour week.

Please state your salary expectations in your application in line with your experience.

Equity, Diversity & Inclusion Overview

We are committed to becoming an increasingly inclusive organization. We continuously work to eliminate unfair and discriminatory practices within the company while encouraging full and equal contributions from our diverse community.

Our mission is to foster an inclusive ethos by creating a welcoming work environment across our global practice. We provide recruitment opportunities that are open to all and encourage applications from candidates of diverse backgrounds to ensure our global team reflects the clients we collaborate with and the communities we serve.

If you require this application in a different format or need support during the application process, please contact Natalia Abril at [e-mail] or via telephone at [phone]. If you have any questions about accessibility or how the role may accommodate your personal circumstances, please reach out.

Charcoalblue strives to provide an environment free from discrimination and is committed to ensuring that all clients and customers can access the services and products we offer, across our three regions. We believe that all individuals – employees and clients alike – are entitled to be treated with respect and dignity.

Charcoalblue is widely regarded as the most exciting and innovative theatre, acoustics, and experience consultancy in the world. We specialise in the performing arts, live entertainment, media, technology, education, experiential, hospitality, workplace and cultural sectors.

We imagine, design, and deliver captivating spaces that entertain, educate, and transform individuals through collective experiences. Guided by listening, collaboration, and a passion for innovation, excellence, emotion, and theatricality, we strive to create extraordinary moments.

Since our inception in the UK in 2004, Charcoalblue is now the largest organization of its kind, delivering projects to every corner of the globe. We operate as a cohesive and collaborative team with studios in London and Bristol in the UK, New York, Chicago, and San Francisco in the US, and Melbourne in Australia.